Nov. 9, 2015

Participants in the recent International Observe the Moon night were bounced off the Moon Oct. 27. Well, not physically bounced off the Moon, but a map of Earth showing all 554 sites that participated in InOMN 2015 were sent to the Moon during an OPTICKS live event, during which images are sent to the Moon and back as radio signals.
“On behalf of the entire International Observe the Moon Night Team, I am delighted by the enthusiastic participation in InOMN 2015. I would like to thank everyone who joined in this worldwide celebration of lunar science and exploration, as well as all of our sponsors and partners who helped make this event a success,” said Andrea Jones, Education Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute and Director of International Observe the Moon Night. “We all have personal and cultural connections to the Moon. Through InOMN, we try to help communities come together to celebrate those connections, learn more about Earth’s nearest neighbor, and use the Moon as a launching point to discuss other topics in planetary science and exploration.

Hundreds of people attended the local InOMN event at the University of Arizona. Sanlyn Buxner, PSI Education Specialist and Research Scientist, organized the Tucson event.
Nine additional photos taken by InOMN participants were also bounced off the Moon during the event.
For more information about International Observe the Moon Night visit http://observethemoonnight.org or http://www.opticks.info/blog.
Above, a photo of the Moon taken by David Abbou at an InOMN event at the John Musante Porter Library in Stafford, Va.
Here, a map showing the sites around the world where International Observe the Moon Night 2015 events were held. The map was bounced off the Moon.